Shelman and Lazoritz have penned the only book that tells the story of the first known child to be rescued from an abusive home in America. It was April of 1874 in New York City--and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals came to her rescue.

Some of the finest tales of all things zombie have been assembled in one book to raise money for the families of children fighting cancer, as well as those suffering severe burns. Authors from all over the planet have gathered to tell you their stories, and they are as varied as they are thrilling. Enjoy some select bites from ATZ while helping us fight the real monsters.

As Flex, his niece Trina, Gem, Hemp and Charlie brave the wild world teeming with thewalking dead, they make up the rules as they go along. Flex Sheridan was an electricianbefore the world took a nasty turn; Gem, an artist. Hemp is a scientist who specializes inepidemics and also carries in his bag of tricks a mechanical engineering degree. Charlie isa metal and punk rocker in her mid-twenties who has learned how to take out twozombies at once with her crossbow. Each one of them has their own story.This one is Gem's chronicle. They know they need to stay safe. But they also know thatto hole up and hide away is to allow the creatures that crave human flesh to walk theworld forever. Join with them as they struggle to balance their natural tendencies towardself-preservation with their strong desire to rid the world of the zombie scourge. Ourband of machine gun-toting nomads moves from place to place in fortified vehicles,keeping their eyes peeled for survivors, and zombie battles ensue at nearly every turn.But this is not a world where love dies. This is a moment in history when humanconnections and things of beauty are more important than ever; things to be embracedand held onto with everything you've got.So hop in the Crown Victoria with the ballistic steel body and the swiveling AK-47 onthe top, and hang on to your seat as Gem powers the car through hoards of zombies andgets her precious Trina and Flex where they need to be. Learn what Hemp and Charliediscover in the lab - a huge clue to what caused the epidemic that has 90% of the worldhunting the rest. But after you meet this group, you'll begin to wonder: Who are thehunters, and who are the hunted?

An epidemic that's turning humans into zombies has swept over the eastern United States and quite possibly the world, and Flex Sheridan doesn't like it one bit. In an effort to save his younger sister, Flex re-connects with perhaps the strongest woman he knows - Gem Cardoza, his former girlfriend. Together they take his six-year-old niece Trina, the only uninfected survivor of his sister's famiy, and his infected sister Jamie, and make a run from central Florida back to his isolated home in Lula, Georgia.As they head north, they encounter another uninfected, Hemphill "Hemp" Chatsworth. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Hemp is British, and extremely smart. He holds multiple degrees, most significantly in Epidemiology and Mechanical Engineering, both of which this group will need in this terrifying new world.Along with the crossbow-wielding Charlene "Charlie" Sanders and a pregnant Great Pyrenees, this small group uses street smarts, book smarts, and technology to defend against the new "Abnormals" that walk the earth. But Hemp is also compelled to learn how they got this way, and if possible, how to reverse the condition and save Flex's sister.So grab your machine gun and take a ride in their fortified vehicles and mobile lab; you're going to want these people on your side when the Dead Hunger . . .

THE NELSON MOORE CHRONICLE IS A TRIP ... Nelson Moore, our lovable stoner, takes over the telling of this, the eighth installment in the series. What he shares is terrifying and surprising. After encountering the living dead in Central Park, Nelson decides he must escape New York City and get to his grandfather, Jim Scofield, in Concord, New Hampshire. With his mellow, sweet demeanor, nobody could have predicted what this kind-hearted dude went through on his journey. Concord is only hours away, but things have a way of twisting around during a zombie apocalypse. As Nelson works his way through the dangerous streets of New York, he encounters other survivors; some friends, some strangers. Compassionate and unable to say no to people in need, his plans are tweaked - and the resulting madness will help to build the character you first came to know and love in volume four of these chronicles. Gem Cardoza asks Nelson to tell his story, unaware of the horrors he went through on his journey across the country. Nelson reluctantly agrees and leaves nothing out, from the death of his friends to each terrifying encounter with the walking dead. If you thought Nelson was intriguing before, this will change the way you see our long-haired, scooter-riding friend. Sit back and dig in. Maybe pack a bowl, too. It might help set the mood.

The Shelburne Chronicle Is Tony's Story. You met Tony Mallette in Dead Hunger III: The Chatsworth Chronicles. Low key and sometimes confoundingly sure of himself, he was an instrumental member of our group of survivors. He played a crucial role in Hemp's rescue, and Tony arrived in the nick of time to save dozens of people in Concord, New Hampshire. It's time you heard his story. Note: This story previously appeared in the anthology entitled "Z Resurrected" in 2015.

Hordes of gnashing, chipped-tooth mouths and grabby hands... anticipating Halloween treats. This time they aren't wearing masks. This time... YOU are the treat. And They. Are. Hungry. Stories from some of the best authors in the genre and a special foreword by best-selling author Joe McKinney. Join us as we trudge from house to house, ringing bells, and knocking on doors. Happy Halloween.

When an otherworldly light engulfed the entire planet, nobody predicted the catastrophic transformation to come. Several unique men, women and children have escaped conversion, and are now bound together with a common resolve: Survive. As the predators they face continue to evolve into more perfect killing machines, Scott, Warren and Missy Walsh, along with over a dozen other survivors, must adapt in order to stay alive. Join them for the second adventure in this chilling trilogy . . . it's unlike anything you've experienced before.

EVOLUTION: 1) A change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection or genetic drift; 2) A motion incomplete in itself, but combining with coordinated motions to produce a single action, as in a machine. Hemp Chatsworth has already figured out how 90% of the Earth's population became what they are. Now he must find out why some of them are evolving into something else. Something more dangerous. With their families poised to grow, the stakes are now higher than ever for our friends. Each new discovery creates the need for a new defense, but Hemp has his hands full as some among the zombie masses appear to be utilizing more of their grey matter in a most horrifying way. Only brute force and innovation will save Flex Sheridan and his family and friends from the ever-shifting zombie scourge. And it's quite possible our small band of heroes might save the world. You should come along ... it might be fun. "Dead Hunger is by far one of the most clever and well-written zombie book series that I have ever read. Full of heart, well-rounded characters and an ever-evolving plot to keep you on your toes and turning the pages late into the night." Suzanne Robb, author of "Z-Boat" and "Contaminated."

SCABS: The Gemini Exception A strange phenomenon occurs out of nowhere; an omnipresent light that engulfs the entire planet. Humanity is forever changed by the light. NOAA and NASA are mystified. People soon face a new threat; even the smallest, most insignificant injury will no longer heal. Doctors cannot stop it. The sick do not die ... they change. They are Scabs. As the survivors flee, it becomes clear there is no place to run and time is short. The topography of the planet begins to change. Devastation and destruction ensue on a massive scale. Scott and Warren Walsh are brothers. Over a thousand miles separate them from one another. Something about them is special, and places them in a category with only 0.2% of the world's population. Only one thing gives Scott, Warren and others like them hope against the Scabs. The Gemini Exception.